Decision details

Agreed-

(1)     That approval be given to allocate the site at Vicarage Road, Oldbury for the development of new affordable rent council housing, subject to planning permission being obtained.

(2)     That approval be given to allocate funding from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account to demolish the existing buildings/structures at Vicarage Road, Oldbury as a pre-requisite for site investigation to facilitate compliance with the Homes England funding timescales.

(3)     That in connection with (1) above, the Director of Finance be authorised to allocate adequate resources from the Council’s Housing Revenue Account, subject to being satisfied that the proposal provides value for money, to deliver the scheme and to utilise grant funding offered by Homes England, under any relevant Homes England Strategic Partnerships, to assist with the delivery of the project.

(4)     That subject to receiving the necessary Strategic Investment Unit appraisal approval mark of 65 or above, the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing be authorised to prepare tendering documentation and subsequently procure, in accordance with any statutory regulations and the Council’s Procurement and Financial Regulations a contractor/contractors to develop, on behalf of the Council, the proposed housing scheme; to enter into or execute under seal any financial agreement in relation to the Homes England grant on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director of Finance.

(5)     That subject to 1.3 and 1.4 above, the Director – Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer be authorised to enter into or execute under seal any documentation in relation to award of the contract and/or development/partnership agreement, Homes England developer status, licence, undertaking, framework joining agreement, any consents or applications required for Planning or Highways appertaining to the delivery of the scheme and any other agreements with the procured contractor(s) and with the Homes England, as may be deemed necessary to facilitate development of the site with a housing scheme on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director of Regeneration and Growth.

(6)     That the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Finance and subject to confirmation of the funding rules applicable, to submit an application for funding to the WMCA and any other relevant funding sources and, in the event the funding bid is successful, the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Director of Housing be authorised to accept the funding and execute under seal any financial agreement in relation to the WMCA and any other relevant funding sources grant on terms and conditions to be agreed by the Director of Finance.

(7)     That following practical completion of each property at the site of Vicarage Road, Oldbury, the Director of Housing be authorised to manage and let the properties built in accordance with the Council’s housing allocation policy.

(8)     That the Director of Finance be authorised to make any necessary adjustment required to appropriate the site at Vicarage Road, Oldbury, for housing purposes

(9)     That the Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Director of Housing and Director of Finance be authorised to amend funding sources available from the balance of 1-4-1 replacement receipts or Homes England to ensure the most appropriate use of funding for the scheme to ensure expenditure of Homes England funding within the contracted timescales and ensure the use of the time limited receipts generated from the sale of properties within the specified time periods.